Mungoshi laid to rest:
AUTHORS and literature fanatics thronged Manyene in Chivhu yesterday for the burial of veteran author Charles Mungoshi who passed away last Saturday.
Most people described the veteran writer as a talented author whose works will forever carry his legacy. Others decried the demise of a reading culture, saying writers of Mungoshi’s calibre are hard to find in the current generation of writers.
The legendary author belonged to a crop of artists who put their work ahead of monetary gains.
Among artists that paid their last respects to Mungoshi were Albert Nyathi, Willis Wataffi, Musaemura Zimunya, Memory Chirere and Daves Guzha.
Chirikure, a former workmate and a friend to Mungoshi for many years said the late author was among artists who invested a lot of time, perfection, research, revision and also read extensively.
He said Mungoshi was among writers who allowed other authors to review their work, making the final product debatable to society and ideas raised interrogated.
“Mungoshi belonged to an era where the basic tool of trade was the pen. We did not own typewriters and it was long before the digital era. But our works were worthy and managed to stand the test of time,” said Chirikure. With 18 distinct published works to his name the novelist, poet, playwright, short story writer, actor, mentor and translator was one of the most decorated local authors. His name is known for some of the best works that include “Waiting for the Rain”, “Coming of the Dry Season”, “Ndiko Kupindana Kwamazuva”, “Inongova Njake Njake” and “Kunyarara Hakusi Kutaura” among others. He succumbed to neurological complications at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, having battled ill-health for a decade.
He is survived by his wife Jesesi, four sons — Farai, Graham, Nyasha and Charles, daughter Tsitsi and seven grandchildren.